What Dogs Teach Us

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Personal, Pets, Photography — 1 min read
Photo: What Dogs Teach Us – Copyright 2008 Frank J Casella

A few years ago my wife and I went to our Son’s school open house. As we were walking down the hall another set of parents looked as us as if they knew us. In fact, I started to ask myself if I know them! Then the wife approached us and said ” we live on the block that you walk your dogs …. you have two beautiful dogs who are well trained!”

This happens more often than I wish to admit. Have you ever been known because of your dog?! Many people know us, but we don’t know them … because they can look out the front window of their houses and see us with the dogs, though we can’t see them.

So, this got me to thinking. In the window of life, for example, children learn more from our actions than from our words. … and, just like dogs, you never know the reflection that you make on others.

Happiness

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Photography — 1 min read
Photo: Happiness – Copyright 2014 Frank J Casella

Happiness is sunlight on a flower.

I hope this Daffodil flower makes you happy today.

One of the beautiful things I love about flowers, is their power to create happiness.

To be happy means feeling or showing pleasure or contentment with someone or something.

If you are familiar with the musical CATS, there is a song called ‘Memories’. The last line in the lyrics goes like this:

“If you touch me
You’ll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun”

The Perspective We Have From Silence

— Posted inHealth & Fitness, Personal, Photography — 1 min read
Silence from the Sky – Black and White Square Landscape Photograph – Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella

We desperately need silent prayer to fill our souls.

In the silence, whatever is hidden deep within us is raised to the surface and is magnified.

Silence in the presence of God is not a waste of our time. In fact, it is the most profitable time we can spend in life.

The Lord is the One who does the work; we only become His instruments if we allow Him to work through us.

“The trees, the flowers, the plants grow in silence.
The stars, the sun, the moon move in silence.
Silence gives us a new perspective.”

Saint (Mother) Teresa

Anger

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Personal, Photography — 2 min read
Photo: Anger – Copyright 2019 Frank J Casella

When I decided to do the topic of anger for this photograph, I quickly became overwhelmed and wanted to change it or give up. Because there is so much that can be said, it is simple yet complex.

So, I have decided to share what anger means to me. That when I become angry I immediately ask myself who or what needs my forgiveness? Let me explain.

A spiritual director once shared with me that anger most commonly happens when something is not going our way, or we react to an injustice of our world view that we can not control.

For example, recently there have been several delays with a house project where my wife and I depend on others to complete. I have also felt anger at times because a part of my work is not getting the results that I’m looking for …..

The only way I know to get through this, is to firstly forgive what is not working, and second seek for where God is at work in these situations. It often turns out that God has a better plan, and He is just waiting for me to meet Him where he is at work in it.

This can be difficult at times because it takes prayer, patience, and discernment with the Holy Spirit to find where I need to be in my thinking and my actions. As Fulton Sheen says, “the Holy Spirit is an artist who paints a picture for us of the vision that God has for us.”

So, when you become angry, I hope that what I have to say helps you to pause and respond with forgiveness instead of react with anger.

The Interesting Thing About Dialogue

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Personal, Photography — 1 min read
Photo: here Copyright 2017 Frank J Casella

…. is that it means “a conversation or exchange between two or more people,”

Dialogue is important so that we can function as a society, and to foster personal growth.

To learn the viewpoints of others, so that we can then create our own viewpoints on life.

With today’s use of technology, specifically smartphones, it can be easy to put off being in-person.

However, it is the personal interaction of all the human senses that gives dialogue its power and effectiveness.

The Office

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Personal, Photography, Sports — 1 min read
Photo: The Office – Black and White Photograph Copyright 2010 Frank J Casella – Two men have a business meeting in a golf cart under a tree at in Midwest America. In this time of work at home, some things like this have been doing remote work all along. It is said more business is done on the golf course than in the boardroom. This says a lot about our humanity to relate to one another and the importance of being social.

Morning Blue Hour Abstract

— Posted inPhotography — 2 min read
Photo: Morning Blue Hour Abstract – Copyright 2022 Frank J Casella

With this latest photograph Morning Blue Hour Abstract – Pine tree silhouettes illuminated by the blue hour sunrise in the America Midwest of Illinois. The Blue Hour is at twilight, when the Sun is quite far below the horizon, coloring the sky deep blue. As for abstract, its definition is just as subjective as its name implies.

Abstract images are conceived or imagined outside of ‘reality’. They can encompass a huge variety of subject matter, take us out of our comfort zone, make us question what we see, or invite us to enter another realm.

If you look, then, you will see less abstract works in my own artwork than you may find other subjects. This is because when I create an abstract work it is not the original intention, rather later on the work lends itself to being a tweak away from reality.

I share my art photography on the Vivaldi blog platform, as well as on MeWe social network: Vivaldi has better privacy and security, and a focus on being visual with image properties and is a great tool to publish and share your ideas; MeWe has a Privacy Bill of Rights like no other, plus there are many groups and features (like a personal cloud and photostream) on MeWe that are designed for photography.

But more about abstract and my artwork. A true definition, that I learned in college, for abstract photography, sometimes called non-objective, experimental or conceptual photography, is a means of depicting a visual image that does not have an immediate association with the object world and that has been created through the use of photographic equipment, processes or materials.

I am mostly a person of reality, as those who know me best will tell you. Though I do have a great appreciation for people who are abstract thinkers, as much as I do for abstract artworks.

I hope that what I have said inspires you to discover abstract art photography, and the thoughtfulness that it evokes for yourself.

It’s Only One Day

— Posted inFamily, Health & Fitness, Personal, Photography, Technology — 1 min read
Photo: It’s Only One Day – An early Spring sunset with silhouetted trees – Copyright 2015 Frank J Casella. (a soft effect is added to this version)

There’s many things in life that we feel are important.

Yet, the day we’re on our death bed will reveal if we’ve been right.

What is most important, I have learned, is to each day take care of unfinished business, and correct all that went wrong yesterday.

Because you never know what tomorrow will bring. On your death bed there are usually no second chances.

What is important to you today then, wont be tomorrow. In the age of the world, it’s only one day.